ENTERTAINMENT, TRIAL AND BUSINESS ATTORNEYS

We are a boutique law firm providing the highest quality legal services in a cost-efficient manner to creative and business professionals.

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ENTERTAINMENT, TRIAL AND BUSINESS ATTORNEYS

We are a boutique law firm providing the highest quality legal services in a cost-efficient manner to creative and business professionals.

ABOUT US

The attorneys of CostaLaw bring over thirty-years of varied legal experience and expertise to their clients. They have counseled major corporate, studio and agency clients, as well as individuals and prides itself on an individualized approach to all client representation.

CostaLaw

“I have very old fashioned views about the practice of law. It is a profession that must involve knowledge, compassion and respect. We are counselors in the truest sense of the word. I strive to think of myself as a confidant on all matters to my clients and usually share years of a close working relationship with them. Sometimes my clients face very exciting opportunities, other times, very serious challenges, but my clients should know that I will promise to approach each matter with emotion and conviction and always look to accomplish what I believe to be in the best interests of my clients.”

-Joseph Costa

CostaLaw

“I have very old fashioned views about the practice of law. It is a profession that must involve knowledge, compassion and respect. We are counselors in the truest sense of the word. I strive to think of myself as a confidant on all matters to my clients and usually share years of a close working relationship with them. Sometimes my clients face very exciting opportunities, other times, very serious challenges, but my clients should know that I will promise to approach each matter with emotion and conviction and always look to accomplish what I believe to be in the best interests of my clients.”

Joseph P. Costa

PARtNER

Joseph P. Costa brings approximately 30 years of litigation and transactional experience to the firm. He worked in the litigation departments of Finley, Kumble, Wagner; Ervin, Cohen & Jessup and Leopold, Petrich & Smith before opening up his own firm.

Since opening his own firm in 1994, Mr. Costa has enjoyed a litigation practice that equally balances plaintiff and defense representation. In addition to his wide-ranging entertainment, employment, and general business litigation work, Mr. Costa works with an array of entertainment and media clients in the capacity of general counsel, specifically advising companies on employment and business related matters. He has represented talent and production companies in contract drafting and negotiations and has extensive transactional experience when representing these clients. Specifically, Mr. Costa has an expertise in matters relating to copyright infringement, trademark infringement, employment (including sexual harassment), Internet law, rights of publicity, transactional and litigation services relating to the direct response industry, licensing agreements, real estate litigation and general business litigation and transactional matters.

Mr. Costa has performed legal services for clients that have included, Lucy Liu, Christopher Lloyd, Deborah Winger, Bob Marley LLC, ATT, Foote Cone & Belding, The Gersh Agency, Paradigm, Savvier, and the Perfect Pushup.Joseph Costa grew up on Long Island, New York, before attending the University of California, Los Angeles, where he majored in English literature. He attended law school at the National Law Center, George Washington University, where he served as the President and Editor in Chief of the Moot Court Board. He has lectured extensively and taught classes at UCLA, through the Beverly Hills Bar Association, before the Association of Talent Agencies and at the Sundance Film Festival.

Joseph Costa was selected by his colleagues as a Southern California Super Lawyer for the years 2004-2018. He has been featured domestically and internationally on television and radio programs to discuss numerous issues relating to the entertainment industry, including on Celebrity Justice, and Access Hollywood. Joe is the proud father of four daughters and resides in Pacific Palisades, California.

Mr. Costa is a respected neutral who has served as a Judge Pro Tem, for the Los Angeles Superior Court. As part of the training leading to this pro bono service, he completed a certification Judicial training program. He likewise has volunteered as a Certified Neutral, for the Los Angeles Superior Court ADR Panel after successfully completing a certification program through the Strauss Institute at Pepperdine University. Mr. Costa has received training on issues relating to sexual violence and has been selected by one of the nation's top ranked college's as its first Title IX external adjudicator. The law regarding Title IX dispute resolution is a newly evolving area of law with potentially life changing consequences for those involved. Mr. Costa's vast employment law experience and balanced representation of both plaintiffs and defendants in sexual harassment matters, combined with his training specific to sexual violence and the applicable burdens of proof and requirements when fact finding under Title IX claims, well positions Mr. Costa as an emerging leader as an external neutral adjudicator for these types of disputes.

Joe Costa’s work as an External Adjudicator for Title IX Sexual Assault cases has well positioned him to take a lead in implementing a program with Judicial and Mediation Services (“JAMS”). Joe drafted the JAMS Rules that govern its Title IX Adjudications, along with a set of streamlined rules for JAMS and is working closely as a JAMS neutral in introducing this program to colleges across the country. Joe has also been sought out as a high level management investigator.

The following is a brief summary of some of Mr. Costa's previous Speaking Engagements:

Guest Lecturer, California Lawyers for the Arts, the "Rights of Joint Copyright Holders.”

Guest Lecturer, the Sundance Film Festival, “The Nuts and Bolts of Independent Film Production.”

The following is a brief summary of some of Mr. Costa's Additional Pro Bono Service:

Founder of Santalawyer.com, a holiday adopt a family program for Los Angeles law firms.

Legislative Counseling for introduction to the United Nations regarding the hearing impaired. Volunteer involvement at "La Puente", a privately funded adult education center for the underprivileged in East Los Angeles.

Volunteer, FEMA, Santa Monica earthquake disaster relief counseling.

Executive Committee for the Entertainment Section of the Beverly Hills Bar Association.

Panel Counsel to the California Lawyers for the Arts.

ENTERTAINMENT

ENTERTAINMENT

ENTERTAINMENT

The firm's entertainment and media practice focuses on music, motion picture/television, media and advertising. Specifically, the management and protection of copyrights, trademarks, and rights of publicity and privacy. Part of the firm's practice includes planning through the earliest stages of intellectual property development and rights clearances.

TRIAL

TRIAL

TRIAL

The firm's trial lawyers are experienced and confident when presenting cases to juries, judges, arbitrators, or hearing officers. Its attorneys have successfully participated in multi-million dollar trials; however, will also work with clients to efficiently try cases that have less money at stake. Representative cases include copyright and trademark litigation, partnership and real estate disputes, employment disputes, false advertising cases brought by individual and government entities, and agency cases before AFTRA arbitrators and labor commissioner officers.

BUSINESS

BUSINESS

BUSINESS

Although many of the firm's cases may have an underlying entertainment or media component to it, at the heart of what the firm does is counsel about ongoing business matters. The firm's attorneys are well suited to serve as outside general counsel to numerous small and large companies in areas such as employment, corporate formation and maintenance, privacy procedures, and the like. We like to think of ourselves as the one call that a business can make to handle and coordinate most of its legal needs.